Mumbai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing a rally at Shivaji Park on Friday, urged Mumbai residents to come out and vote on Monday, aiming to surpass all previous voting records. He emphasized that he had come to “return Mumbai’s rights to her” and criticized the 2019 election results in Maharashtra, claiming the people’s mandate had been “stolen” and development had stalled. However, he praised the city for its understanding of the importance of speed and highlighted the ongoing infrastructure improvements.
PM Modi reminded Mumbaikars of the terror strikes and blasts that had once plagued the city, contrasting the past with the current situation. “There was no guarantee that when you stepped out, you’d return home alive. Today, your daughter returns home happily,” he said, emphasizing the increased safety since 2014. He urged voters to remember these changes when casting their votes, stating, “Your one vote in the country’s interest has become the support the nation needs.”
Attacking Uddhav Thackeray, Modi criticized the shift in the party’s stance, noting, “A party which was known for being against infiltrators is now against CAA.” He also firmly stated that no power in the world could bring back Article 370, crediting the people’s vote for enabling significant decisions.
Modi lauded Mumbai as a city that not only dreams but lives those dreams, never disappointing those determined to achieve. He shared his vision for 2047, encouraging everyone to contribute to making a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) and highlighted Mumbai’s crucial role in this national aspiration. “In this dream city, I have come with the dream of 2047. It is a dream for the nation, a resolve that all of us should make,” he concluded.
